New AHRQ Guide Helps Nursing Homes Tackle Antimicrobial Stewardship

AHRQ's new Nursing Home Antimicrobial Stewardship Guide is a research-based resource that offers step-by-step instructions and materials to help nursing homes improve antibiotic use and decrease harms caused by inappropriate prescribing. The guide, which is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's core elements of antibiotic stewardship, can also help health care providers meet the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' new Infection Prevention and Control Program requirements. That program requires providers to have a system to prevent, identify, report, investigate and control infections and communicable diseases for all facility residents, staff, volunteers and visitors. AHRQ's stewardship guide, which is customizable to meet facilities' specific needs, includes four toolkits designed to implement, monitor and sustain an antimicrobial stewardship program; determine whether it is necessary to treat a potential infection with antibiotics; help prescribing clinicians use an antibiogram to choose the right antibiotic to treat a particular infection; and educate and engage residents and family members. Access additional AHRQ tools to prevent healthcare-associated infections and an AHRQ Views blog post, "It's Prime Time for Nursing Homes: New AHRQ Antimicrobial Stewardship Guide Available."

First Comprehensive Healthcare Simulation Dictionary Available Now

AHRQ has partnered with the Society for Simulation in Healthcare to produce this first comprehensive Healthcare Simulation Dictionary. With more than 100 health care simulation terms and definitions, the Healthcare Simulation Dictionary takes the first steps toward standardizing the use of simulation terminology to enhance information sharing. Health care simulation professionals can use the dictionary in different areas, such as education, assessment, research and systems integrations. The dictionary will support clear communication and improve awareness about lexicon use. This first edition of the dictionary was conceived as a living document to be expanded over time and is part of AHRQ's mission to improve patient safety, which involves simulation research. Read a new AHRQ Views blog post, "AHRQ's Simulation Dictionary: A New Tool To Support Patient Safety Efforts."

AHRQ Updates Hospital Guide to Reducing Medicaid Readmissions

AHRQ has updated its Hospital Guide to Reducing Medicaid Readmissions, a resource to help hospitals design and deliver transitional care that addresses medical, social and behavioral needs of Medicaid patients and other vulnerable populations. The resource provides guidance as summarized by the ASPIRE acronym: Analyze your data to understand existing readmission patterns and root causes; Survey your current readmission reduction efforts; Plan a multifaceted, data-informed portfolio of strategies; Implement whole-person transitional care; Reach out to collaborate with cross-setting partners; and Enhance services for high-risk patients. The guide includes 13 customizable tools and content for six webinars to support training on how to use the guide.

New AHRQ Views Blog Posts

Register Now for Nov. 16 Webinar on Teaching TeamSTEPPS® Using Nontraditional Methods

An AHRQ webinar on Nov. 16 from 1 to 2 p.m. EST will highlight one team's unique approach to disseminating TeamSTEPPS®. The webinar, "Integration of TeamSTEPPS Into Clinical Practice Using Nontraditional Methodologies," will feature three presenters from Nemours Children's Hospital and Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida. This team designed creative, engaging programs for TeamSTEPPS implementation that go beyond sitting in a classroom. Register for the webinar and learn more about TeamSTEPPS.